The Grenada gazette., 1887-09-17
THE KISS IN HISTORY.
Curious CustOms Obtaining In Many ror.
tlOns Of the Globe.

THE KISS IN HISTORY.
Curious Customs ObtainiDs In Many Fol
tiOns Of the Globe.
There was an old belief that unless
maiden was kissed un.ser the mistletd
at Christmas she would not be Marie,
during the ensuing year.
When Fox was contesting the hard
won seat at Westminster the beautiful
Duchess of Devonshire offered to kis
all who voted for the great statesman
In the ceremonial of betrothal = kis
has played an important part in severa
nations. A nuptial kiss in church, a
the conclusion Of the marriage service
is solemnly enjoined by the York Mis-
sal and the Sarum Manual.
The beautiful Lady Gordon, wher
the ranks Of the Scottish regiments had
been sadly thinncd by cruel Badajo,
and Salamanca. turned recruiting ser.
geant, and. to tempt the gallant lads.
placed the recruiting shilling in her
lips, whence each who would might
take it with his own.
In Finland, according to Bayard
Taylor, the women resent as an insult
a salute upon the lips. A Finish mat
ron, hearing of our English custom of
kissing, declared that did her husband
attempt such liberty she would treat
him with such box on the ears that he
should not readily forget.
In Wesley's journal, dated June 16,
1858, is given the following description
of u duel between two officers at Linn
erick: "Mr. B. proposed firing at
twelve yards. but Mr.. j. said: No, six
is enough So they kissed one another
(poor f;.rceD and before they were five
PAGES asunder both fired at the in.
stant."
The Code of Justinian says "that if
a man bothered woman by a kiss and
either party died before marriage the
heirs were entitled to half the dona-
ions and the survivor to the other
ialf; but if the contract was made
without the solemn kiss, tho whole Of
he espoused gifts must be restored to
he donors and their heirs-at-law.
The Mohammedans, ON their pious
to Mecca, kiss the sacred
black stone and the four corners Of
the kaaba. The Roman priest kisses
the aspergillum, and Palm Sunday the
palm. Kissing the Pope's toe was a
fashion introduced by one of the Leos,
who, it is said. had mutilated his right
hand, and was too vain to expose the
stump.
In Iceland kissing had deferred pen
,lties of great severity. For kissing
another mans wife. with or without
Ter consent, the punishment Of exclu-
'ion. Or its pecuniary equivalent, was
lwaTded. A man rendered himself LA
Die for kissing an unmarried woman
lnder legal guardianship without her
and, if the lady consented,
he law required that every kiss should
'e wiped out by a fine Of three marks
equivalent to one hundred and forty
lis of wadmal--a quantity sufficient to
urnish whole ships crew with pilot
ackets. -
In Russia the Eastern salutation is u
Kiss. Each member Of the family
alutes the other; chance acquaintance
IN meeting kiss; principals kiss their
employees; the General kisses his Off
ers; the officers kiss their soldiers;
he Gar kisses his family, rctinuc.
ourt and attendants. and even his
Ulcers on parade, the sentinels at the
'alace gates. and select party of
'rivate soldiers-probably elaborately
for this "royal salute" In
'ther parts the poorest serf, meeting Il
ligh-born dame in the street. has but
o say, "Christ is risen." and he will
eceive kiss and the reply, ''Hc has
isen, truly"
Home, in his quaint old liable
'ook.' gives an account Of curious
Id kissing festival held in Ireland:
Easter Monday several hundred
oung persons Of the town and neigh.
orhood of Potsferry, County Down,
esort. dressed in their best, to Il
leasant walk near the town. called
The Waller The avowed object of
ach person is to see the fun, which
onsists in the men kissing the females
rithOut reserve, whether married or
ingle. This mode Of salutation is
ute a matter Of course; it is never
AIKEN amiss. nor with much show of
oyness. The female must be ordinary
ndced who returns home without hav-
ng received at least dozen hearty
uses. "-Chicago Tribune. |